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Post by martinsmith1989 on Mar 18, 2017 12:55:29 GMT
Hey there, My name is Brady Love. I run a website dedicated to the memory of the late Martin Smith: inmemoryofmartinsmith.weebly.comI am always looking to learn more about Martin and would love to hear from anyone here if they knew him or ever saw him in any shows and how they liked him. But one thing in particular... I'm looking for information regarding Martin Smith's stint as The Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera". He played the role in October-November of 1989. It is famously said he wasn't at his best in the role but there's no clear reason as to why. I figured someone here must have seen him and can shed a little light on the issue. In addition, I've been searching almost nonstop for 5 years now for a recording of Martin as The Phantom and have done everything in my power to find one (including getting in touch with Cameron Mackintosh & Really Useful Group's archives whom had nothing, contacting a majority of the cast when Martin was Phantom who also had nothing, old collectors who also have nothing, everything) and have had 0 luck. If anybody here can help me with this it would put an end to a very, very stressful search for me. Thank you, ~Brady |
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Post by ali973 on Mar 18, 2017 13:17:14 GMT
I love this post, thank you. I recall really enjoying his performance in City of Angels. I adore early Phantoms and vintage audio recordings from the 80s/90s. I'll dig into my collection, but I honestly doubt I have a recording of Mr. Smith.
This reminds me of other great artists from the 90s. Not to hijack the post, but does anyone know of Gerard Casey? He was the Joe Gillis understudy in the original London Sunset (to Kevin Anderson), and eventually took over the role until the show closed again to re-open with Betty Buckley and John Barrowman. If I am not mistaken, he has passed too to HIV/AIDS related causes. Can anyone confirm?
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Post by martinsmith1989 on Mar 18, 2017 13:22:54 GMT
I love this post, thank you. I recall really enjoying his performance in City of Angels. I adore early Phantoms and vintage audio recordings from the 80s/90s. I'll dig into my collection, but I honestly doubt I have a recording of Mr. Smith. It means all the world to me that you'd check either way. You don't know how much stress this has caused me. Thank you. If it helps I do know he was recorded in the role but people either lost their master tapes which they never made copies of, or other traders have lost possession of the tapes they had (apparently they had several). And it seems none of the '89 cast had sound desk tapes made during that time making it all the more difficult. |
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Mar 18, 2017 13:32:32 GMT
Sorry to hear that you still haven't had any luck in finding a recording Brady after all this time.
Did you ever get in touch with Martin Levan? Though I am not sure he still has his offices in Berwick Street so I'm afraid i don't have his current details.
I have always regretted that I didn't get to see the Prince Edward original production of Children of Eden, though I do have a treasured copy of the cast recording which Is the only version I listen to. Do you have any live recordings of Martin in this? I would love to hear the whole show sometime (or preferably a video archieve with that impressive set and costume design).
Gerard Casey has indeed passed away unfortunately. A big loss to the profession - his Kodaly knocked the socks off of the one I saw in recent revival.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2017 13:36:01 GMT
I don't remember Martin Smith in Phantom, but I do remember the stories about Cameron Mackintosh having to sack him as he wasn't up to the role. I do remember seeing him in City of Angels. A great performer with great style! I also remember seeing him in Children of Eden. He is on the OLC recording and I just LOVE his voice! He can also be heard singing a beautifully mellow recording of Just So's There's No Harm In Asking with Anthony Barclay on the Hey Mr Producer! CD. A very sad loss to Musical Theatre...
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Post by martinsmith1989 on Mar 18, 2017 13:37:08 GMT
Sorry to hear that you still haven't had any luck in finding a recording Brady after all this time. Did you ever get in touch with Martin Levan? Though I am not sure he still has his offices in Berwick Street so I'm afraid i don't have his current details. Hey, very nice to hear from you again after all this time! I never thought to contact Martin Levan, do you think he would have been involved with the production at the time? |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2017 13:46:11 GMT
Have just had a look at your website (link above not working btw) and saw that he composed the musical King! Didn't know that, but I did go to see it!
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Post by ukpuppetboy on Mar 18, 2017 13:54:36 GMT
Sorry to hear that you still haven't had any luck in finding a recording Brady after all this time. Did you ever get in touch with Martin Levan? Though I am not sure he still has his offices in Berwick Street so I'm afraid i don't have his current details. Hey, very nice to hear from you again after all this time! I never thought to contact Martin Levan, do you think he would have been involved with the production at the time? Martin Levan was the sole sound designer on the show at that time and one of his technicans would have been on the desk and made any live recordings. I'm not sure that he would have copies but worth asking. Any live recordings I have came from Christine understudies so if you have a programme from then I'd definitely check with the actress playing the Hannibal Princess :-) Keeping everying crossed for you. That version of "There's No Harm in Asking" from Hey, Mr Producer is beautiful. Another original vesion that beats the revision hands down.. |
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Post by martinsmith1989 on Mar 18, 2017 15:22:11 GMT
Hey, very nice to hear from you again after all this time! I never thought to contact Martin Levan, do you think he would have been involved with the production at the time? Martin Levan was the sole sound designer on the show at that time and one of his technicans would have been on the desk and made any live recordings. I'm not sure that he would have copies but worth asking. Any live recordings I have came from Christine understudies so if you have a programme from then I'd definitely check with the actress playing the Hannibal Princess :-) Keeping everying crossed for you. The two people I've desperately tried to find contact for but haven't so far are Jill Washington (his principle Christine), and Penelope Brister who was the Christine understudy at the time. Would you, or anyone else here, happen to know of any avenues I could contact these two? |
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Post by horton on Mar 18, 2017 15:22:27 GMT
Sorry to hear that you still haven't find that grail!
Nowadays there would be 15 recordings on youtube but 1989 was a different world.
Martin Smith was such a talent- his recording of Funny in City of Angels is definitive! If you haven't heard him:
I seem to recall there was a lot of turbulence around 1989- 1990, with quite a lot of pressure for Michael Crawford to return to London from the L.A. company. Maybe Martin was the victim of politics- which would explain why his performance was buried, because they man who owned Valjean and a string of other roles, could certainly manage Phantom.
Good luck with your search! I'd love to see the performance, too!
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Post by musicallady on Mar 18, 2017 15:48:05 GMT
I saw Martin in Children Of Eden. Loved it. I'm sure somewhere in my collection I have a recording of Martin singing New York, New York from a Friday Night is Music Night.
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Post by martinsmith1989 on Mar 18, 2017 15:54:04 GMT
While we're here, you guys might be interested to see the YouTube page that I recently set up dedicated solely to the Martin Smith recordings I have in my archive: www.youtube.com/channel/UCEa8nZfiOxwE_M93rzDyH4QHere are some highlights for you: |
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Post by martinsmith1989 on Mar 18, 2017 16:00:23 GMT
Have just had a look at your website (link above not working btw) and saw that he composed the musical King! Didn't know that, but I did go to see it! I'd love to hear more about "King", especially if you maybe have a programme from the show of some sort! My goal is to create a page dedicated solely to the show on the website but I'm waiting to find Martin's demo tape of the show, and trying to find more information about the actual performance itself... |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2017 23:26:50 GMT
I saw Martin Smith in many shows during to 80's and 90's, including Phantom. I took my mum, who was a huge fan of Crossroads, the soap he had been in. Unfortunately i dont have a recording of him in it though. The programme is in a box somewhere.
He had a beautiful voice, as well as being a handsome man.
I attended the tribute concert for him at the Prince Edward Theatre after he died. Sonia Swabey sang 'Just So' and Sally Ann Triplett sang 'East River Calling' a song he had written.
A true loss at such a young age. Its great to see the video of him singing 'Sands of Time' again. I used to watch it often when it was on Stiles and Drewe's website, but its gone now.
His recording of 'No Harm In Asking' with Anthony Barclay is gorgeous, as other have said above.
I really hope you can find what your looking for.
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Post by martinsmith1989 on Mar 18, 2017 23:45:53 GMT
I saw Martin Smith in many shows during to 80's and 90's, including Phantom. I took my mum, who was a huge fan of Crossroads, the soap he had been in. Unfortunately i dont have a recording of him in it though. The programme is in a box somewhere. I attended the tribute concert for him at the Prince Edward Theatre after he died. Sonia Swabey sang 'Just So' and Sally Ann Triplett sang 'East River Calling' a song he had written. I know it was long ago, but do you have much memory of how he was as The Phantom? I've heard mixed things...more mixed opinions than I've ever heard on anyone else's performance. What was the tribute like? Would you happen to have a brochure/programme from that evening? Would love to get some more information for the website... Thank you so much for sharing your memories. |
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Post by duncan on Mar 19, 2017 9:49:09 GMT
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Post by martinsmith1989 on Mar 19, 2017 15:58:36 GMT
Thank you very kindly for the photos and the episode! A new page just went live on the website about Crossroads: inmemoryofmartinsmith.weebly.com/crossroads.htmlI'm curious, could you maybe give me a little summary of Martin's character on the show and what he brought to the series? I'm not at all familiar with Crossroads and would like the page to be a little more...detailed in its description of Martin's place in the show, providing you'd be okay with me using it. Thanks again! |
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Post by martinsmith1989 on Mar 23, 2017 21:54:18 GMT
I have made a video about my search asking for widespread help in finding a recording of Martin Smith playing The Phantom. Please share this video to every Phantom or musical theater forum or website you can think of, share it anywhere and everywhere...maybe the right person will see it who can help me out:
Thank you.
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Post by crabtree on Mar 23, 2017 22:34:12 GMT
and don't forget Martin Smith alongside Simon Green in Falsettos.....wonderful.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Mar 23, 2017 23:44:54 GMT
and don't forget Martin Smith alongside Simon Green in Falsettos.....wonderful. I had no idea a British production of Falsettos happened! |
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Post by frankubelik on Mar 24, 2017 7:08:50 GMT
Actually March of the Falsettos at the (then) Albery Theatre with Barry James & Paddy Navin. Martin was wonderful in this; it lasted about four weeks........
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Post by martinsmith1989 on Mar 24, 2017 12:06:52 GMT
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Post by martinsmith1989 on Mar 27, 2017 18:53:31 GMT
Everyone,
I just found out that Martin sang "The Music of the Night" at a concert called "Brits On Broadway" on August 4, 1989 with the London Symphony Orchestra.
There used to be a recording of this in trading circles, I found it on someone's list 4 years ago but I had no idea what it was and never contacted them. I've not been able to find this list. Can anybody here help me with this in some way??
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2018 11:37:17 GMT
Fans of the late Martin Smith might be interested to know that Hackney Empire is staging a concert of his musical, King, based on the life of Martin Luther King. Good cast with Debbie Kurup, Cedric Neal and Sharon D Clarke... Two performances only- 30th June, 1st July 2018
(I actually saw this when it was fully staged in the West End back in the 80s but I had no idea it was penned by Martin Smith...)
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Post by martinsmith1989 on Oct 29, 2018 22:00:56 GMT
I figured I'd bump this and see if there's anybody here nowadays who may know anything about Martin Smith's 6-7 week stint as The Phantom, or have a recording of some kind? As always, heres the website: inmemoryofmartinsmith.weebly.com/Thanks! |
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